1 Jan 1970

HSE launches 'Making a difference 2008-2011'

The Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee (PABIAC) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched the second phase of its strategy to improve health and safety performance in the papermaking, corrugated packaging and recovered paper sectors.

Known as 'Making a difference 2008-2011', the new strategy builds on the industry's achievements from the first phase of the strategy, which included a reduction in the overall reported non-fatal injury rate by 22 per cent between 2005 and 2008. In addition, the number of working days lost was reduced by 35 per cent over the same period.

The strategy for 2008-2011 was prepared by the HSE, CBI and TUC, the three organisations that make up the PABIAC partnership. It was developed following extensive consultation with executives, managers, trade unions and employee safety representatives in the industry. When the strategy was officially launched at a PABIAC meeting on 15 July 2008, it received the backing of industry chief executives and senior managers.

'Making a difference 2008-2011' sets out the strategic direction for health and safety in the industry. It sets an ambitious target for reducing annual injury incidence rates from the current figure of around 1170 per 100,000 employees to less than 850 per 100,000 employees by 2011. Other objectives address the need to improve health and safety management performance and to demonstrate a continuously improving health and safety climate. There is also an objective to improve the understanding and control of occupational health.

Bud Hudspith, a PABIAC member and the National Officer for Unite, commented: "Unite strongly supports PABIAC’s strategy 'Making a difference 2008-2011' on health and safety in the paper-related industries. We welcome a further phase of the strategy and look forward to a continuing partnership that involves trade union safety representatives in all aspects of health and safety. We have made progress on health and safety in the paper industries, but there is still a long way to go before we can confidently say these are safe industries for our members to work in."

Speaking on behalf of the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), Dr Martin Oldman said: "The papermaking and partner industries have developed with their PABIAC partners a robust but deliverable programme of safety action planning that has to date seen measurable improvements in safety performance and demonstrable advantage in management systems and behavioural attitudes. The strategy 'Making a difference 2008-2011' reflects the extent to which the allied industries, now within CPI, have developed delivery platforms for improvement and it provides a sensible and achievable strategic direction. It includes measurable targets that meet the requirements of a modern industry in today’s society with strong underpinning of the business necessity and wisdom of good health and safety management systems."

James Barrett, head of the HSE’s Manufacturing Sector, added: "I am pleased that PABIAC has agreed to continue this targeted action, which builds on the solid achievements of parts of the papermaking and conversion sector in recent years while recognising there is still work to be done. ‘Making a difference 2008-2011’ will help encourage those companies who have yet to show real progress to make a start on the road to improvement and will encourage those who have already made good progress to maintain their momentum. The targets support HSE’s own injury, ill health and days lost reduction programme and are a good example of our commitment to working in partnership with those who are able to deliver the improvements".

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